web counter
 

The Weekly Power Rankings: Does Internet Porn Know You're Cheating on It? Edition

By Dustin Rowles | Posted Under TV Reviews | Comments (32)

archer_fx_b.jpg

10. United States of Tara: This season it looks like all the alters are going to come out and play at once. It’s a decent show, but it never really grabs me until near the end of each season. At least Patton Oswalt looks to be a bigger part of season three.

9. Traffic Light: This show has seriously grown on me over the course of the season, and most of that reason is because of the show’s female characters, who are smart without being shrill, and usually funnier than the dudes. They also wear the pants in their respective relationships, but in an honest way that I can understand: Because they should be.

8. Lights Out: The penultimate episode, now of the series, felt a little bittersweet knowing that the show is not coming back for a second season, but this episode again felt like it was introducing another story — here, the cash-grabbing mother — for the sake of stretching out a boxing series another episode. Next week, we will finally get to see some boxing.

7. The Good Wife: I didn’t love the main storyline this week — the killer trying to profit from a song about his victim — but, as always, Kalinda is the best part of this show. It looked like her and Peter might avert that affair crisis for a moment, but from the looks of scenes from next week’s episode, that’s going to blow up all over the place.

6. Top Chef: Richard Blais finally got what he deserved in his original season, only it’s a little sweeter here given the competition and the degree of difficulty. Behind Casey, he’s my second favorite all-time “Top Chef” contestant, and it was nice to see him earn that title.

5. Parenthood: I really love this family. They bicker, they fight, and yet, they always manage by the end to say the right thing. Except for Crosby. He never says the right thing. But Jasmine: Don’t you fuck that relationship up. He’s a good father. Take him back. And Amber! What were you thinking applying to only one safety school? Come on, you’re smarter than that.

4. Archer: I can’t believe I only starting watching this last week. Why didn’t you guys tell me? You should have came over to my house and sat on me until I submitted. This week’s episode was goddamn hilarious. I now love Judy Greer even more. And instead of adding “Archer” quotes to the NBC’s Thursday Night comedy, this show really does deserve its own quote post, if only it had more viewers. Now, the key is to get more of our readers to watch it without forcing it on them.

3. The Borgias: Great pilot episode, and while I expect it to be a regular in the Power Rankings, I have my doubts that it’ll appear this high again. Read the full-length review.

2. The Killing: I thought for sure that “The Borgais” would be the best new show I saw last week, but then I watched “The Killing.” This gets the nod only because it’s closer to my personal wheelhouse. Read the full-length review.

1. Justified: They finally had a great episode that combined all that’s fantastic about this season of “Justified”: Raylan Givens, Boyd Crowder, and Mags Bennett got their time, and it’s clear now that Bennett is going go force Givens and Crowder to work as allies. What’s more disconcerting, however, is that — at least the coal mining is concerned — it feels like Mags is in the right. It’s tough to argue against that fantastic speech she gave.









Each Time You Like, Share, Tweet or Stumble a Pajiba Post, An Angel Does the Paul Rudd Dance

← The First and Only Time You Will Ever Rejoice at This Phrase: "Ladies and Gentlemen, Taylor Hicks!" | The Last Man on Earth Dumb Enough to Work with M. Night Shyamalan is ... Will Smith? →









Comments

I am on season 2 of the Good Wife... please tell me it gets better? I keep watching because I don't have a TV and find all of my entertainment on Amazon Video on Demand and Hulu, but it is such an obnoxious show. I should stop watching, but I just keep hanging on hoping it gets better because everyone loves it. And Kalinda is horrible. Somehow everyone finds her sexy and alluring, when really she is a psychopath with zero sex-appeal.
I am the last person who usually stands up for our legal system and defends it (and I have a law degree), but the way the writers abuse the law on that show is so outrageous as to be comical.
It would also be easier to quit this show if Mr.BalladofMaxwellDemon weren't so into it...
Just please tell me it gets better...

Posted by: BalladofMaxwellDemon at April 4, 2011 3:15 PM

"Who taught you how to punch? Your husband?"
and maybe my favorite
"It was like Meow-schwitz in there"

Posted by: Optimus Rhyme at April 4, 2011 3:18 PM

"Heh, heh...He got shot again..."

Posted by: jfd at April 4, 2011 3:22 PM

"I'VE NEVER SEEN AN OCELOT! HOLY SHIT! YOU GUYS, LOOK AT HIS LITTLE SPOTS! LOOK AT HIS TUFTED EARS!"

Posted by: Gerb at April 4, 2011 3:26 PM

"at least the coal mining is concerned — it feels like Mags is in the right. It’s tough to argue against that fantastic speech she gave."

While both appear evil (i.e., Mags and the mining company) at least the mining company is offering to buy the land and would produce jobs.

What, exactly is Mags offering? keep everythign the same but with less jobs? And, of course, we don't know what her master plan is yet, but I am sure it will not be to the benefit of her neighbors.

Also, they have consistently been very liberal in this show on what the Marshall Services' duties and responsibilities are (which I understand, b/c I don't believe the Marshall service's duties are quite as exotic as the show implies). But making a U.S. Marshall the 24 hour personal bodyguard for a business's p.r. hack was a bit much. Took me out of the episode a little. Felt a little too unrealistic.

Posted by: kerminy at April 4, 2011 3:28 PM

And Archer is a great show. I loved Jon Benjamin (Archer) on "Dr. Katz, professional therapist" and love him on this.

Posted by: kerminy at April 4, 2011 3:30 PM

I LOVE that they revealed Cheryl to be the heiress to a massive fortune on Archer. I mean, doesn't that basically explain why she is as crazy as she is? She's rich! Hence, batshit insane!

"I'm not negotiating with a cyborg!"

Posted by: MelBivDevoe at April 4, 2011 3:31 PM

I started sort of begrudingly watching Archer and am now really enjoying it. I'm not sure why I resisted. I guess because it seemed (at first) like they were selling it as a super-cool spy show, but it's really a comedy set in a spy agency (or whatever ISIS is supposed to be; I guess I need to watch it from the beginning).

And Pam is kinda my hero now, even more so than Lana.

Posted by: Slash at April 4, 2011 3:33 PM

"Do you want ants? Because that's how you get ants." (S1 Ep1) - Archer season 1 is on Netflix Instant...

Posted by: Tereasa at April 4, 2011 3:34 PM

I also just discovered Archer & now I am pissed that no one told hoe effing funny it is!

And Justified... It really needs to be on Netflix instant... Like, now...

Posted by: Bodhi at April 4, 2011 3:41 PM

If you like Archer, and can handle a little more insanity, tryout Frisky Dingo as wekk. It's by the same people, aired for two seasons on adult swim.

Posted by: e at April 4, 2011 3:50 PM

*not just as wekk, but as well too.

Posted by: e at April 4, 2011 3:51 PM

I can’t believe I only starting watching this last week. Why didn’t you guys tell me?

Why you smartass sonofa- Oh, wait. That's why I come here. Carry on.

Posted by: Paultera at April 4, 2011 3:57 PM

When I was watching Justified I kept thinking that Raylan needs to be hungover more often. He's hilarious when he's got the bottle flu. Then I saw how badly that affected his instincts. He is going to whoop the shit out of that boy the next time they tangle though.

Re:Mining
Things are likely much different in Raylan's part of the country and maybe safety standards are a bit more lax but as someone who lives in a mining town I find it hard to believe that all the locals would be against the mine. If the mines shut down here it would result in killing every other job around here as well.

Posted by: Paultera at April 4, 2011 4:11 PM

I have to second e, Frisky Dingo is like Archer for the more demented. It's excellent.

Posted by: BalladofMaxwellDemon at April 4, 2011 4:12 PM

Now, the key is to get more of our readers to watch it without forcing it on them.

Just keep plugging the show without turning it into some fetish thing you sometimes get with shows or movies you like. Don't make it weird Dustin

Posted by: elgarcon at April 4, 2011 4:14 PM

Woodhouse: I’m afraid the lemur got into the pudding cups.
Archer: Yeah, like I told you he would! You idiot!

Posted by: Matt at April 4, 2011 4:31 PM

I really hate the implication that Richard got what he finally deserved on Top Chef, as if Stephanie winning was some sort of horrible thing. Stephanie did just as well as Richard throughout their season, it wasn't like she did some sort of voodoo to win the final and take it away from Richard. It was absolutely between the two of them in the final (Lisa was the WORST) but Stephanie deserved the title just as much as Richard. Even though Richard seems to be a great chef, this whole season has seemed like a way for the Top Chef to right what they perceived as some sort of wrong for Stephanie winning and the whole thing left a sour taste in my mouth.

Posted by: michellery at April 4, 2011 4:39 PM

I think a big part of the reason that Raylan ended up protecting the Black Pike PR flack is that Art figured out exactly what Winona & Raylan were up to at the end of last episode. While Art probably can't prove anything, he certainly can give Raylan some crappy assignments to make up for it. So when PR lady requested Raylan, Art was probably much more predisposed to grant such an outlandish wish than he'd ordinarily feel about loaning out one of his Marshals.

Whatever the cause, I'm just as excited as Dustin to learn that this situation once again aligns Raylan and Boyd. It should make for another explosive season finale here pretty soon.

Posted by: agent bedhead at April 4, 2011 5:08 PM

Right now 'Archer' is the thing I watch that makes me laugh the hardest.

'Apparently slavery was awesome'
'Prove it'
'What's to prove? It's free labor!'

Also, 'meow-schwitz' from this weeks episode might have made me pee a little.

Posted by: Jeni at April 4, 2011 5:24 PM

I've been on the Archer train since episode 1 and it's always been this fun. Where y'all been, acting all cool?

"Sorry about your homey...homeys."

Posted by: Fredo at April 4, 2011 5:27 PM

I believe I asked many moons ago why no one was talking about Archer on this site. Seemed right up Pajiba Alley. The pilot, "Mole Hunt" is one of the best pilots I have ever seen for any genre, and the episode "Skytanic" is probably the hardest I've ever laughed watching television.

Posted by: The Lola Monster at April 4, 2011 6:03 PM

"Now what am I going to spread on my toast. Your tears?"

Posted by: Paultera at April 4, 2011 6:11 PM

dustin, all is forgiven! so glad that you are finally on the bandwagon with archer. what took you so long?

still, it's only #4? i can't argue with #1 as i loves me my justified. i don't watch any of the other eight shows (though i am going to download the killing) so.....

on second thought, #4 is pretty good. i just can't imagine that borgia stuff (even with jeremy irons) is better.

Posted by: splinter at April 4, 2011 7:03 PM

Just going to keep pushing the H Jon and say check out Bob's Burgers.

Posted by: LwoodPDowd at April 4, 2011 7:18 PM

Archer is by far the best thing on television.

Blob Marley.

Posted by: MRod at April 4, 2011 8:36 PM

*Carol/Cheryl's kidnapper starts shooting at her and the gang in ISIS and she's wearing a bulletproof vest with Archer hiding and shooting from behind her*

Carol/Cheryl: AAAAAHHHH!
Archer: Stop screaming! You're wearing a bulletproof vest.
Carol/Cheryl: Oh.

*Carol/Cheryl gets shot in the arm*

Archer: But it is a vest.

Posted by: haplo at April 4, 2011 9:28 PM

I think The League is way funnier than Archer.

Posted by: jzhz at April 4, 2011 9:36 PM

I loved how affected Raylan was by the thought of Art having a negative opinion of him. And again, F WINONA. I'm so pissed at her for putting him in this position.

I'm surprised you didn't mention the Joel and Julia storyline on this week's Parenthood. Broke my heart. So well done.

Posted by: Mel C. at April 4, 2011 11:47 PM

Every time I try to watch Archer, I get sad that Frisky Dingo never got a third season. So many cliffhangers! Damn you Adult Swim!

Posted by: Slizbomb at April 5, 2011 10:29 AM

Archer's Glee over the ocelot had me and my roommate convulsing. That show has quickly become the highlight of my week, since Parks and Rec was a rerun AGAIN GAH.

Posted by: Julie at April 5, 2011 11:36 AM

I'm pretty a lot of people did tell you to watch Archer back in Season 1.

Posted by: RonnyK at April 6, 2011 10:22 AM